West Lindsey

West Lindsey's population expanded in the decade to 2011. At the same time there were changes in religion, ethnicity and work life.

The population passed 89,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of West Lindsey increased by 12%, from about 79,500 to 89,300.

The addition of about 9,700 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, West Lindsey was home to, on average, 0.55 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the East Midlands' second-least densely-populated district.

Population density was lower than the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older West Lindsey

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of West Lindsey increased by three years, from 42 to 45 years.

This remote area had the third-highest average age in the East Midlands and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 4,200 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 2,000.

About 15% of people in West Lindsey are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and West Lindsey by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

West Lindsey saw England's third-largest rise in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner.

In 2011, just under one in eight (12%) people aged 16 and over in West Lindsey said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner, compared with 9.6% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 60% to 55%.

England's largest increase in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner occurred in Isles of Scilly (from 8.4% to 11%) followed by Rother (from 10% to 13%).

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

West Lindsey saw the East Midlands' third-largest rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) in West Lindsey reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.1% in 2001. The percentage that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.1% to 1.3%.

Across the region, only East Lindsey (from 3.3% to 4.1%) and North Kesteven (from 2.1% to 2.8%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

Every local authority area across the East Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care, as the regional average grew from 2.2% to 2.6%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in West Lindsey remained close to 2.8%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and West Lindsey by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in West Lindsey

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 22% said they had no religion. The figure increased from 22% in 2001

The number of people in West Lindsey that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 8,700 in 2001 to about 19,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 11% to 22% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious affiliation.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the East Midlands (from 16% to 27%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in West Lindsey that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 65,000 in 2001 to just under 63,000 in 2011 (from 82% to 70%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 5,300 to just over 6,100 (from 6.7% to 6.9%).

Just over 300 people (0.2%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from just over 150 in 2001 (0.3%).

The population without a religion in West Lindsey increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and West Lindsey by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in West Lindsey

The percentage of West Lindsey residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 89% to 88% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 25 (4.1%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 3.2% in 2001. The percentage of West Lindsey residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 7.6% to 7.7%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (which remained close to 89%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in West Lindsey

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 98% said they were from the White ethnic groups. The figure increased from 98% in 2001

The number of people in West Lindsey from the White ethnic groups increased from about 79,000 in 2001 to about 88,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 99% to 98%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the East Midlands (from 93% to 89%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in West Lindsey from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 270 in 2001 to just under 730 in 2011 (from 0.3% to 0.8%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 330 to about 630 (from 0.4% to 0.7%).

Just over 220 people (0.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 130 in 2001 (0.3%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in West Lindsey remained close to 98%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and West Lindsey by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in West Lindsey working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 16% to 13% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.0%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.8% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 14% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in West Lindsey decreased by 3.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in West Lindsey, the East Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in West Lindsey, but at a slower rate than in North Lincolnshire (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with West Lindsey).

In West Lindsey, the proportion of private renting increased from 10% in 2001 to 14% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby North Lincolnshire increased from 7.3% to 13%.

Across the East Midlands, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.5% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in West Lindsey fell from 12% to 11%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 75% to 73%.

Private renting in West Lindsey increased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of households in West Lindsey, the East Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of West Lindsey residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.6% to 5.4% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (80%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 68% in 2001. The percentage of West Lindsey residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 15%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 9.4% in 2001 to 5.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in West Lindsey decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in West Lindsey, the East Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes without children

The percentage of households without children increased in West Lindsey at a faster rate than across England.

In West Lindsey, the proportion of households without children increased from 62% in 2001 to 64% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 61% to 61%.

Across the East Midlands, the share of households without children increased from 61% to 62%.

The proportion of households with children in West Lindsey fell from 29% to 27%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 9.1% to 9.0%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in West Lindsey, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.7% to 9.7% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in four (27%) households had only one person, compared with 25% in 2001. The percentage of households in West Lindsey which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 44% to 39%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 8.7% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in West Lindsey increased by 2 percentage points

Percentage of households in West Lindsey, the East Midlands and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of West Lindsey residents that were self-employed increased from 9.3% to 10% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in two (52%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 51% in 2001. The percentage of West Lindsey residents that were unemployed increased from 3.2% to 3.8%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 7.6% in 2001 to 8.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.2% to 9.7%.

The rate of self-employment was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were self-employed across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

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